Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-01

search Of / would not so much object
to the gall and bitterness. provided it
did not last too long"
Jack" Hester went on. 'you
really ought to reform. When you
marry, 1 am afraid you will say to
your wife. after a few days: Ny dear
Polly. or Dolly. Molly-whatever the
unfortunate ones name may be-yOu
are very COOL. very excellent. in your
way, but find you so very like. don't
YOU see, that l really think must
marry some one else. No offense. but
it is impossible for ME to exist without
Variety"
You know me better than I know
myself" laughed Jack. as he asked
permission to light cigarette after
having his coffee.
Hester had reached that age when
she could philosopher nationally upon
the marriage question. both with
safety 10 herself and her gentleman
acquaintance. Her girl friends called
her "maiure." To say the truth. she
was thirty. and was at no time nor
place ashamed of the fact. Why she
had never married was rs much n
puzzle 10 Jack rs other of her friends;
but they never asked. Somehow. they
did not have the courage.
There are two disagreeable extremes
which women of Hcstcr's age are very
likely to reach. One is the stage where
they are continually striving to shield
from the world the fact that :hey have
arrived at that unfortunate period in
life for all unmarried wOmen-thirty
winters and summers. Argue rs one
may. it can not be denied that there is
unpleasant in tho fact that
one must bear that dreadful word
through life. The other ex-
trcme is found in the woman who is
endeavoring to impress the
truth upon her friends that she is thir-
ty, and is glad she has reached that age
without wetllock. But she usually
makes the declaration with nervous
little laugh which has not the ring Of
about it.
Jack threw his cigarette among the
embers in the Fireplace, and rose to
go.
'lhave made a visit" he said. land
l only meant cali; but your pleasant
Don't fl AFTER" she interrupted,
''save that for your younger friends.
I understand you don't mean 4 word
you say. I always scold you, but
you deserve it."
They had reached the door. but be-
fore going down the steps Jack turned
and said:
"Oh. Hest 1 nearly forgo'; may l
bring friend. a Jolly good fellow
whom met in the West, to call?''
Certainly" she laughed, IF he is
nice"
Jack went briskly down the street.
and Hester to her own room to dress
for morning walk.
Jack was always asking permission
TO bring some one of his many friends
to call OH Hester She seemed almost
like an older sister to the impulsive
boy. and he openly expressed his ad-
miration for her. Jacks father and
DR.. Clyde had been college mates. and
the two fl miles had for years been
closely united. They were separted
when Hester was ut boarding-school.
and when Jack was at college;
but the two families visited Eu-
rope in company. and the thought
of marriage between the two would
have been laughed at by all interested
in the pie asant family relations. To
be sure some of the outside friends of
both parties. especially the younger
girls Of their set. some times made dis
agreeable remarks. and suggested
that stranger marriages had been
known. Besides" they would add.
over their tea and English biscuits.
''what but matrimonial objects could
persuade Jack Brandt to go about
with a woman eight years older than
himself ?"
The fact was. he found in Hes ter
bright, pleasant companion. one who
sympathized and advised him in his
love affairs-for he was by no means
without them-and friend whom he
could trust, or from whom he could
borrow a bank-note with more freedom
than from the majority of his gentle
man friends.
There was q mutual understanding
between the two. and tho solemn COM
pact, made years ago at school. that
one should befriend the other in case
of real or fancied trouble. had never
been forgotten. But the thought of
love was too ridiculous to be enter
tanned By either; they therefore never
entertained their subject on their own
account.
Two evenings after the opening of
our story Jack again rang the bell at
the Clyde mansion. This time his
new friend was with him. and the two
were shown by the French maid into
the dimly-lighted drawing-room.